PATTAYA, Thailand – Nongprue Municipality, in east Pattaya, organized a hands-on Upcycling Waste workshop under the Happy Health Center initiative, teaching residents how to repurpose used plastic fruit baskets into functional items like shelves and shoe racks.
Deputy Mayor Wanchai Saeng-ngam represented the municipal administration and met with over 50 participants interested in learning practical upcycling skills. The workshop focused on transforming discarded materials into new, valuable products without melting or fully recycling the plastic.
The initiative addresses a common problem: many fruit vendors discard plastic baskets after use, which fetch little value as scrap. Through creative repurposing, participants can make functional home or office items inexpensively—building a three-tier shelf costs less than 50 baht for PVC pipes, screws, and fasteners.
Officials noted that upcycling provides multiple benefits: reducing waste, promoting environmental awareness, supporting circular economy practices, enhancing skills, and even creating opportunities for supplementary income. Beyond environmental gains, the workshop aims to instill mindful resource use and sustainable habits in the community.
